Panasonic announced the immediate availability of the AG-HPG10, a rugged, highly affordable P2 solid-state high-definition/standard-definition video viewer/recorder. Dubbed the P2 Gear, the 1.1-pound, battery-operated AG-HPG10 provides a host of functions to support P2 workflow in the field as well as within video production facilities, including P2 card playback, transfer and recording, uncompressed HD-SDI transfer, clip file and metadata management, and data back up onto USB 2.0 and IEEE 1394 equipped hard drives.

The P2 Gear is equipped with two industry standard high-speed data transfer interfaces, IEEE 1394 and USB 2.0, for transferring content to a PC- or Mac-based nonlinear editor or FireWire-equipped DV/DVCPRO/HD tape deck. The HD-SDI output allows playback to a larger HD production monitor or uncompressed content transfer to HD-SDI equipped decks, post production systems and storage networks. For added flexibility, the P2 Gear can record from IEEE 1394-equipped DV/ DVCPRO/ DVCPROHD camcorders and decks. P2 cards can also be “hot-swapped” for continuous recording.

To expedite a user’s workflow, the AG-HPG10 features time-saving P2 clip management functions. This portable recorder allows professionals to: copy select clips from one P2 card to another for more efficient use of card capacity, shot mark specific clips, update a clip’s metadata with specific information such as names and location, or save a text memo to individual clips when recording or previewing.

The P2 Gear’s professional input/output interfaces include HD-SDI output (HD/SD and four embedded audio channels supported), IEEE 1394, USB 2.0 with a host function, SD video out, component and composite video output and audio output (CH1/CH2 pin jacks), and an SD memory card slot. The P2 Gear also supports playback of variable frame-rate sources and features invaluable functions such as waveform/vector scope display (which displays the waveform and vector of a playback video signal or IEEE 1394 input video signal) and continuous loop playback. These can be quickly accessed via three programmable user buttons on the unit. The P2 Gear has 50/60-Hz operation and comes standard with an AC adapter and battery.

With Panasonic’s forthcoming 32 GB P2 cards, available November 2007, the HPG10 can record for over 60 minutes in intra-frame (independent frame) 720p 60 and 1080i, or for more than four hours in standard definition.

The AG-HPG10 P2 Gear is available now at a suggested list price of $3,995 including a 5-year limited warranty program.